4th Annual Nursing and the Law Update: Issues for an Aging Workforce and Aging Patients

3.75 General CLE Credits | WSBA AV CLE Activity ID #1001061

This program explores key issues for elderly patients. Practitioners and lawyers will learn about major health and social benefit programs for aging patients, and how hospitals and long term care facilities are helping to keep elderly patients from unnecessary hospital readmission. An increasingly complex care environment also imposes risk on a nurses' license all the while a nursing shortage puts a premium on experienced nurses. This innovative program also explores the challenges of an aging nursing workforce, along with common risks for nursing practice and how alternative to discipline programs can help keep experienced nurses practicing safely and longer.

Overview

Co-sponsored by the Seattle University College of Nursing, the Washington State Association of Nurse Attorneys, the Washington Center for Nursing, the Washington State Medical Association, and the Washington State Nurses Association.

While the age of the average registered nurse is 50 years old, the 65 and older population will double by 2030 in Washington State. This program explores key issues for elderly patients and the aging nursing workforce who care for them. Practitioners and lawyers will learn about major health and social benefit programs for aging patients, and how hospitals and long term care facilities are helping to keep elderly patients from unnecessary hospital readmission. An increasingly complex care environment imposes risk on a nurses' license. Meanwhile, a nursing shortage puts a premium on experienced nurses. This interactive program explores common risks for nursing practice and how alternative to discipline programs can help keep experienced nurses practicing safely and longer.

Washington State Nurses Association CNEPP (OH-231, 10/31/2015) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Agenda

12-12:15 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

12:15-1:15 p.m.

Elder Law in an Hour

Provides an overview and a useful tool on benefit programs such as Social Security, Social Security Disability, VA benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and others. Learn how your clients qualify, benefits received, as well as risk of disqualification.

1:15-2 p.m.

Learn about Medicare's payment penalties under the ACA to prevent avoidable hospital readmissions and how the Washington State Hospital Association and Long Term Care organizations developed practical tools to keep patients and residents out of the hospital.

Speaker: Bonnie Blachly, MN, RN, NHA

2-2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15-4:15

Why Nurses and Physicians support alternatives to discipline programs

Action on a provider's license by professional regulatory boards is a win-lose situation and devastates an established career in nursing or medicine. Engage in a practical exercise to uncover legal issues in nursing practice and learn about what alternative to discipline programs are available to practitioners in Washington State, including recent initiatives that seek to create a more robust alternative to discipline programs.

Speakers:

Angela Macey Cushman, Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC

Plaintiff's bar perspective

Margaret Holm, WA State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

Addressing drug and substance abuse: the Washington Health Professional Services program Early Remediation Program for Nurses

Denny Maher, WA State Medical Association

Legislation to establish alternative to discipline for physicians and other health professionals

Gerald Tarutis, Tarutis & Brunstrom

Why should defense lawyers for allied health support alternative to discipline programs?

Dr. Thomas Gallagher, MD University of Washington School of Medicine

The Communication and Resolution Plan as an effective approach to alternative to discipline.